Monday, April 7, 2025

Crater Copernicus (all night)

The nights starting on Monday, April 7 will be particularly good for viewing the prominent crater Copernicus, which is located in eastern Oceanus Procellarum, the dark region located due south of Mare Imbrium and slightly northwest of the moon's centre. This 800 million year old impact scar is visible with unaided eyes and binoculars - but telescope views will reveal
many more interesting aspects of lunar geology. Several nights before the moon reaches its full phase, Copernicus exhibits heavily terraced edges (due to slumping), an extensive ejecta blanket outside the crater rim, a complex central peak, and both smooth and rough terrain on the crater's floor. Around full moon, Copernicus' ray system, extending 500 miles (800 km) in all directions, becomes prominent. Use high magnification to look around
Copernicus for small craters with bright floors and black haloes - impacts through Copernicus' white ejecta that excavated dark Oceanus Procellarum
basalt and even deeper highlands anorthosite.

(Data Courtesy of Starry Night)
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* Origin: CJ's Place, Orange City FL > cjsplace.thruhere.net (954:100/61)